Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Polyester microfibers delay growth of cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) throughout the lifecycle

A lifecycle greenhouse experiment found that polyester microfibers — a common contaminant in soils amended with biosolids — slowed the growth of cherry tomatoes at multiple life stages, and that these effects were caused primarily by the physical properties of the fibers rather than any leached chemicals. Even at a relatively low concentration of 0.5% by soil weight, microfibers measurably impaired plant development. This is significant because polyester microfibers are one of the most prevalent microplastic types in agricultural soils, and their effects on crop productivity could have food security implications.

2026 PLoS ONE
Clinical Trial Tier 1

Effects of microplastics polluted soil on the growth of Solanum lycopersicum L.

This study tested how microplastic-contaminated soil affects tomato plant growth, finding that higher concentrations of plastic particles in soil reduced plant height, root development, and overall crop health. The results suggest that microplastic pollution in farmland could reduce food crop yields and potentially affect the quality of the produce we eat.

2024 ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH 8 citations
Article Tier 2

MICROPLÁSTICOS Y NANOPLÁSTICOS: UNA REVISIÓN SISTEMÁTICA DE SU IMPACTO EN EL CRECIMIENTO DE TOMATE (Solanum lycopersicum)

This systematic review analysed published studies on the effects of synthetic microplastics and nanoplastics on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) growth, examining how polymer type, particle size, concentration, and growth medium modulate phytotoxicity. The review found that MP and NP exposure consistently impaired biomass accumulation, plant height, flower and fruit production, and root and shoot length, with higher concentrations and smaller particle sizes generally producing the most pronounced negative effects.

2025 Revista Ciencia e Innovación Agroalimentaria de la Universidad de Guanajuato
Article Tier 2

Phytotoxicity of polystyrene, polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.)

Researchers tested the effects of polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene microplastics on tomato plant growth using hydroponic experiments at various concentrations. The study found that all three types of microplastics negatively affected seed germination, root growth, and plant development, with effects varying by plastic type and concentration. These findings suggest that microplastic contamination in agricultural settings could interfere with crop growth and food production.

2022 Journal of Environmental Management 195 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on tomato plant growth, fruit yield and quality

Researchers investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics affect tomato plant growth and fruit quality, finding that exposure reduced seedling biomass, impaired photosynthesis, and triggered oxidative stress. At higher concentrations, the nanoplastics inhibited mineral uptake and diminished fruit yield along with nutritional quality markers like vitamin C and lycopene. The study highlights that nanoplastic contamination in agricultural soils could pose a meaningful threat to food crop productivity and nutritional value.

2026 Food Chemistry
Article Tier 2

Impacts of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Tomato Crops: A Critical Review

This review covers the impacts of microplastics and nanoplastics on tomato crops, documenting disruption at germination, root development, flowering, and fruit production stages. It also examines how these particles alter soil microbial communities and identifies priority research areas for understanding MP effects on major food crops.

2025 Environments
Article Tier 2

The effects of polyester microfibres on the development and seed yield of white mustard (Sinapis alba L.)

Researchers investigated how polyester microfibres, a prevalent type of microplastic in agricultural soils, affect the growth and seed yield of white mustard plants. They found that microfibre contamination altered plant development in ways that could have implications for crop productivity. The study highlights the importance of understanding how microplastic accumulation in farmland may affect the economic yield of food crops.

2024 Frontiers in Environmental Science 3 citations
Article Tier 2

The effect of sewage sludge containing microplastics on growth and fruit development of tomato plants

Sewage sludge containing microplastics was applied to soil and effects on tomato plant growth and fruit development were assessed. Microplastic exposure through sludge-amended soil altered vegetative growth and fruit maturation, suggesting that agricultural sludge application is a route by which microplastics affect food crops.

2020 Environmental Pollution 170 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of microplastics aerial deposition on rhizosphere soil ecology: the case study of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) exposed to polyethylene

Researchers investigated the impact of aerial polyethylene microsphere deposition on tomato plants at concentrations of 10, 100, and 1000 mg/L, finding that while shoot biomass was unaffected, exposure significantly altered root metabolite profiles (increasing amino acids, decreasing fatty acids and organic acids) and shifted rhizosphere bacterial and fungal community composition.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

A Combined Effect of Mixed Multi-Microplastic Types on Growth and Yield of Tomato

A greenhouse experiment found that a 1% w/w mixture of polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene microplastics negatively affected tomato plant development and yield, with statistical analysis confirming significant growth reductions compared to uncontaminated soil.

2024 Preprints.org
Article Tier 2

Can microplastics threaten plant productivity and fruit quality? Insights from Micro-Tom and Micro-PET/PVC

Researchers grew tomato plants in soil containing environmentally realistic levels of PET and PVC microplastics and found mixed effects on plant productivity and fruit quality. While some growth parameters were affected, the microplastics also altered the mineral content of the tomatoes. This study suggests that microplastics in agricultural soil could change the nutritional profile of the food we eat.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 58 citations
Article Tier 2

Polyester microplastic fibers in soil increase nitrogen loss via leaching and decrease plant biomass production and N uptake

Researchers found that polyester microplastic fibers in soil increased nitrogen loss via leaching by up to 300% while decreasing plant biomass production and nitrogen uptake in maize, demonstrating significant disruption to agroecosystem nutrient cycling.

2022 Environmental Research Letters 92 citations
Article Tier 2

Potential impacts of two types of microplastics on Solanum lycopersicum L. and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Researchers investigated the potential impacts of two types of microplastics on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, examining how plastic pollution may disrupt plant-fungal symbiotic relationships in agricultural soils.

2022 Ceylon Journal of Science 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable microplastics affect tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) growth by interfering rhizosphere key phylotypes

Scientists found that biodegradable microplastics, often promoted as eco-friendly alternatives, can negatively affect tomato plant growth by disrupting beneficial soil bacteria around the roots. This suggests that even plastics designed to break down in the environment may still pose risks to agriculture and food production as they degrade into microplastic fragments.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of Polystyrene Microplastics on Soil Properties, Microbial Diversity and Solanum lycopersicum L. Growth in Meadow Soils

Researchers tested how polystyrene microplastics of different sizes and concentrations affect tomato plant growth and soil microbes. Surprisingly, some microplastic treatments boosted plant growth and soil nutrients, while others reduced microbial diversity and disrupted soil community networks. The mixed results show that microplastic effects on agriculture are complex and depend on particle size and concentration, making it difficult to predict how contaminated soil will affect food crops.

2025 Plants 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Presence of High-Density Polyethylene Nanoplastics (HDPE-NPs) in Soil Can Influence the Growth Parameters of Tomato Plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) at Various Stages of Development

Researchers grew tomato plants in soil spiked with high-density polyethylene nanoplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations, finding that the nanoplastics slowed germination, reduced root and shoot growth, and affected plant physiology at multiple developmental stages. Effects were dose-dependent and more pronounced at higher nanoplastic concentrations. As nanoplastics are now detected in agricultural soils through biosolid application and irrigation, this study raises concerns about the impact of nano-sized plastic contamination on food crop yields.

2025 Sustainability 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and plant health: A comprehensive analysis of entry pathways, physiological impacts, and remediation strategies

This comprehensive review examines how microplastics enter plant systems, the physiological and biochemical impacts on plant health, and the implications for crop productivity and food safety, synthesizing evidence that MPs can reduce germination, growth, and nutritional quality in agricultural plants.

2025 International Journal of Advanced Biochemistry Research
Article Tier 2

Effects of Microplastics on Growth and Physiological Characteristics of Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.)

Researchers found that low-density polyethylene microplastics inhibited tobacco plant growth in hydroponics, with high concentrations (1,000 mg/L) reducing chlorophyll content, disrupting antioxidant defenses, and lowering overall biomass.

2022 Agronomy 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Risks of microplastics from polyurethane and polyethylene-polycarbonate coated fertilizers to soil-crop system

Microplastics derived from polyurethane and polyethylene-polycarbonate coated fertilizers significantly reduced tomato seed germination rates (by 12–22%) and inhibited early seedling growth, while also altering soil enzyme activity in ways that could affect long-term soil health.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Potential impact of microplastic on plant (Solanum melongena) and microbial growth in a Vertisols of Central India

Researchers conducted a pot culture experiment to evaluate the impact of microplastics on the physicochemical and biological properties of Vertisol soils in Central India and on the growth of eggplant (Solanum melongena), examining how terrestrial plastic contamination may affect both soil health and crop productivity.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

The multifaceted mechanisms of microplastic inhibition of tomato plant growth: oxidative toxicity, metabolic perturbation, and photosynthetic damage

Researchers exposed tomato seedlings to biodegradable and conventional microplastics and investigated photosynthetic performance, metabolic disruption, and oxidative stress responses. Both microplastic types inhibited tomato growth and caused oxidative damage, with impacts on the photosynthetic apparatus and metabolite profiles, challenging the assumption that biodegradable plastics are safer for agricultural systems.

2025 Plant Physiology and Biochemistry
Systematic Review Tier 1

Effects of nano- & microplastics on terrestrial plants are ubiquitous and widespread: a systematic review

This systematic review finds that nano- and microplastics have widespread negative effects on plants, including reduced germination, stunted growth, and biochemical stress responses. Since plants form the base of our food supply, these findings suggest that microplastic contamination in agricultural soils could affect crop health and potentially the quality of food we eat.

2023 CNR ExploRA
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Abundance in the Locally Produced Commercial Compost and the Characteristics

Researchers measured microplastic abundance in locally produced commercial compost, characterizing particle morphology, size, and polymer type. The compost contained measurable microplastic concentrations dominated by polyester fibres and polyethylene fragments, confirming that commercial composting does not eliminate microplastic contamination and may serve as a route for soil plastic input.

2024 Tropical Agricultural Research 5 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Nano- and microplastics commonly cause adverse impacts on plants at environmentally relevant levels: A systematic review

Systematic review of 78 studies found that nano- and microplastics commonly cause adverse effects on plants even at environmentally relevant concentrations, with germination and root growth more strongly affected than shoot growth during early development. Chlorophyll levels were consistently reduced while stress indicators (ROS) and antioxidant enzymes were consistently upregulated across species.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 100 citations